Well, I told you that I would try to update once per day, so here's the next chapter for you. I hope you enjoy it, and please review :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

Chapter Two

The next few days passed as usual for Merlin. He spent his time balancing getting ordered around by both Arthur and Gaius, doing chores assigned to him by the higher-ups of the castle staff and, when he had a moment to spare, studying a few more spells to add to his ever-increasing repertoire.

He was just in the herb garden, a huge list from Gaius in his hands, in the middle of picking some mint and stuffing it into the pouch he had slung over his shoulder, when someone bumped into him from the side. The next thing he knew, he was lying face-first in a patch of mint. Clambering to his feet and turning round, he was only mildly surprised to see Elira flat on the ground. He automatically reached down to help her up.

"I was wondering when I'd bump into you again."

She gratefully accepted his arm, a light laugh escaping her as she stood.

"Me too actually. We seem to be making rather a big habit of it." He chuckled, having to agree with her. Over the course of the five days which passed since Sir Alan's Knighting ceremony they had, quite literally, bumped into each other no less than twelve times. Thirteen now. Most of which resulted in a quick scramble to pick up whatever they had each been carrying at the time.

"It seems you're not the only one developing a reputation for being clumsy. I seem to be doing quite well myself." She said, grinning up at him with the smile he had come to know so well over the course of their meetings, laughter making her eyes bright.

"Indeed. What are you doing here anyway?"

"Oh, I've been sent to pick some herbs to be used in tonight's meals. I wasn't really looking where I was going- as you can probably tell. Yourself?"

"I'm just here to gather some herbs for Gaius, the court Physician." He looked up at the sky, noticing that the sun was nearing its midpoint. "Speaking of which, I'd better hurry and get these to him. Arthur will be wanting his lunch soon, and heaven forbid I be even a few seconds late."

She giggled in reply. "True. We wouldn't want you to end up in the stocks again- no matter how amusing it might be. I guess I'll be seeing you soon?"

"I wouldn't count on it. Arthur and a few others are setting out to go hunting tomorrow, and of course it's up to me to keep them all in order. It shouldn't take more than a couple of days though, so I'll see you when I get back."

She nodded. "Goodbye then. I hope you have an enjoyable trip."

"I'll try." Turning and walking hurriedly out of the garden, he barely even noticed that he was grinning from ear to ear.

The next evening, the hunting group sat around the campfire chatting merrily. They had just finished eating a filling meal (cooked by the only servant in the group of course) and were having a fantastic time grilling each other on random topics of conversation. It was Arthur's turn to start. He considered for a while before speaking.

"Alright, I've got one. What made you choose to become a Knight?" Merlin, sat to Arthur's right, leaned back slightly. It was obvious he would be excluded from this one.

Sir Kay, to the Prince's left, was the first to answer.

"I became one out of loyalty to Camelot."

Sir Dwight, the next in the group, snorted in derision.

"Oh please, we all know that's only part of it. I daresay I'm the only one man enough to say it, so I'll just get it over with- I did it for the women. No fine lady can resist a man in armour." Raucous laughter filled the camp at this, several of the men nodding their heads profusely in agreement. Once they had settled, they continued around the circle. Last to speak was Sir Alan.

"I became one to bring honour to my family. I carry the wishes of my father to assist in guiding Camelot towards a brighter future- one of prosperity and peace." There was silence for a moment. No-one had expected the young man's answer to be quite so thoughtfully planned out and serious. He had, since his test, shown himself to be a bit of a joker. It was something Merlin liked about him. Arthur was the first to break the silence, clapping his hands together as he began to speak.

"So that's that. Who's turn is it to ask the next question?"

Merlin woke early the following morning. The conversation had continued long into the night, and he would have slept longer, but he had been overcome by a bad feeling. There was something wrong in the air. A faint mist ran over the ground, blurring his vision, so he stood up to take a good look around.

There- a movement in the shadow of the trees. A flash of reflected light- could that be from a sword?

"Bandits!" He yelled, as they burst into the camp. The Knights were awake and up in a matter of seconds, automatically forming a circle facing outwards. The following fight was furious.

Merlin dodged as a sword came towards him, forcing him backwards- he had forgotten to pick up a weapon. Retreating as fast as he could, he didn't notice the protruding tree root behind him until it was too late. Just as the sword was coming down, Arthur noticed his dilemma. The Prince threw himself at the bandit, knocking him to the floor before stabbing him. He turned briefly to face his servant.

"Are you okay?" Merlin just had time to nod, wide-eyed, before a hulking shape loomed up behind his friend, sword raised high.

"Arthur! Look out!" Arthur span just in time to parry the blow. He slashed the man across the stomach and then re-entered the fight with a vengeance. Merlin quickly shuffled backwards, ducking behind a tree. He was hardly any use with a weapon, even if he did have one on him. It was far better for him to stay out of the way and lend magical assistance if necessary.

After a few short seconds, a strange sight caught his eye. While the other Knights were focused on their separate battles, Sir Alan had knelt down briefly and picked up one of the bandit's swords. Why did he need that? He still had his own.

Merlin watched as the young man took careful aim- and threw the sword straight towards Arthur's back.

The warlock acted instinctively, reaching out with his powers. As the Prince 'slipped' onto the ground, the sword passed over his head. Arthur rolled as he fell, back on his feet in seconds, staring around for the source of the weapon. He saw nothing he deemed dangerous though- Alan was standing over the man who he assumed must have been the culprit, looking for all the world like he had just chopped him down. Merlin was the only one to notice the slight tightness around the new Knight's eyes.

As the fighting came to an end, Arthur looked around to ensure there were no more enemies. His gaze alighted upon Merlin, who appeared to have been hidden throughout a large portion of the fight.

"Merlin! Could you possibly be any more useless? Come out from there!" He looked around once more, counting. They had lost two men in the battle. As the group gathered together, he looked around at his Knights, ending on Alan. He spoke to the group as a whole. "Well done. You fought bravely. I'm cutting this trip short though- we must return to Camelot and inform my father of what has occurred here.

They immediately started to pack up camp, laying the two fallen Knights over the backs of their respective horses. Their bodies would be taken care of back at the city.

As Merlin readied his pack and clambered onto the mare he was using (as a servant, he didn't have a horse of his own), he kept one eye focused in Alan's direction. What had that been about?